The Virginia Gazette

By the last Advices from Boston, we are informed that the factious
People in that Town were beginning to accuse one another. Those who
have Money upbraid the penniless Rogues who have Seduced them to join
in the late glaring Outrages and Piracies. The monied Men say that they
have been induced to give a Kind of Sanction to the outrageous Excesses
of the Rebels, more from a Fear of personal Insult, and from a Dread of
their Property being destroyed, than from a Consciousness of the Rectitude
of the Measures of the Faction. That now they begin to see their
Error, and the Folly of their Inactivity; for the low Wretches amongst
them, and their Ringleaders, have committed all the late Depredations,
because they had nothing to pay by Way of Retribution, while the whole
of the Compensation for the flagrant Offences of the Mob is drawn from
the Pockets of substantial orderly Inhabitants, who in general deprecate the
villainous Proceedings of the Rebels. A serious Reflection on the past
Outrages at Boston, and on the Consequences that are naturally expected
to follow, has occasioned even those of the Faction, who are possessed of
Money, now to endeavour to restrain their own Miscreants, whom they
have roused up to Rebellion; but this they find a difficult Task. The
ignorant Multitude, whom they have deluded, insist upon these first
Instigators appearing at their Head; and when they find a Backwardness
in these great Men to lead them on, they not only doubt the Merits of
their Cause, but, by their Complaints, signify an Aptitude to take Vengeance
on their Seducers. Such was the State of Boston by the last Ship
from that Port, since which later Intelligence has been received from
that Town by the Way of New York; the Substance of which is, that
as soon as the first Accounts of the Bill for blocking up their Harbour
arrived all the low Adherents of the Faction assembled, and were just
going to perpetrate some outrageous Acts of Violence against his Majesty's
Officers, and those moderate judicious Men amongst themselves who
wished a due Submission to Government, when the principal Inhabitants
of the Town interposed, and informed the Rioters that their Insurrections
and Plunderings would have a bad Effect with Respect to themselves,
and would only increase the Measure of their Punishment; that England
seemed now to be roused; that the most prudent Step they could take
would be quietly to submit; and that if the Port should be Shut up, they
were well assured it would be opened the Moment Compensation was
granted, and Submission professed. These Remonstrances fortunately
had a happy Effect, and the Mob dispersed, promising to keep Peace and
good Order. The Faction at Boston are now in the same Condition that
all People feel themselves in after having committed some signal Outrage
against the Laws. At first, they support one another by talking
over their spirited Exertions, and praising each other's Bravery; but these
vain Notions soon evaporate, and the Dread of Punishment takes Possession
of their Minds, upon which they become as low spirited and dastardly
as they were before outrageous and overbearing.